The World

"I opened my eyes upon a strange and weird landscape. I knew that I was on Mars; not once did I question either my sanity or my wakefulness. ...
I found myself lying prone upon a bed of yellowish, mosslike vegetation which stretched around me in all directions for interminable miles." (PoM, 3)
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One Planet, Two Worlds

Mars, the Red Planet

Orbiting the sun at an average distance of 225,000,000 kilometers, Mars is the first planet in the Solar System beyond the orbit of earth. Mars is a small planet, with a diameter of about half that of Earth and a mass of just over 1/10 Earth (0.11). Its surface gravity is a little less than 40% of Earth's, and in real-world terms, this makes Mars nearly uninhabitable. It has an atmosphere, but only a very thin one, roughly what one would encounter at an altitude of 100,000 meters. Its relative distance from the Sun makes it a cold place, too. The north pole is a frozen water ice wasteland, the south pole is covered in carbon dioxide ice, and there is little or no water to be found between the poles. The average surface temperature varies between -100 and -40 degrees Celsius. The Martian day is only slightly longer than Earth's, at 24 hours and 37 minutes.

Unlike Earth, Mars is not a sphere. There is a pronounced bulge in the region known as the Tharsis Plateau, which rises as much as 10 kilometers above the surrounding terrain. The entire northern hemisphere lies at a lower altitude than does the southern hemisphere. If Mars was ever covered with water, it is likely that the northern lowlands was a single vast ocean.

The two moons of Mars are called Phobos and Deimos (Fear and Despair), or Thuria and Cluros in the Martian Tales. Phobos (Thuria) orbits the planet once every 7 hours and 39 minutes at a distance of only 9270 kilometers; Deimos (Cluros) orbits at a much slower rate of 30 hours and 18 minutes. He is 23,400 kilometers away. Both moons are small, airless, ovoid rocks; Phobos is only 22 kilometers in length while Deimos is a mere 12 kilometers long.

Barsoom, the Dying World

The world created by Edgar Rice Burroughs is a dying planet, kept alive only by the technologies and herculean efforts of two of the dominant races dwelling upon its surface. There is almost no surface water, although Barsoom was at one time covered by five mighty oceans. The only water left on Barsoom is located at the frozen wastes of the polar regions, and the only standing liquid water is in vast underground oceans at the south pole. The entire vast expanse of its land area is covered by a dense mat of ochre moss. The few forested areas are near the equator and are dense, dangerous jungles. Ruins of ancient cities can be found scattered about the wilderness.

The dead sea bottoms and ancient cities of Barsoom are the home of the savage Green hordes, a cruel and heartless people who live only for battle and death. They roam the plains and hills of Barsoom, looting and pillaging the cities of the Red men of Barsoom and making war on each other whenever the opportunity is good. Only the bravest of explorers will ever venture into the vast uncharted plains of Barsoom.

The twin moons of Barsoom are known as Cluros and Thuria. Thuria is the nearer and smaller moon, and circles the planet several times each day. Cluros, her distant, cold mate, orbits in a more stately fashion, about once each day. Of the two, only Thuria is known to be inhabited, by a race of fierce chameleon like creatures called Masenas. Cluros has never been explored. 
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